RESCUER GETS TO VISIT BOY HE SAVED

Attempts by EliM-an GonzM-alez's Miami relatives to see the boy one last time have been rebuffed by his father, but other South Floridians are getting audiences with the 6-year-old.

In a new twist in the case, Sam Ciancio, 41, a Broward County roofing company owner who plucked EliM-an from the waters off Fort Lauderdale, flew to Washington this week and visited for hours with the boy and his father on Tuesday.

Ciancio, who with the help of his cousin Donato Dalrymple saved the boy's life on Thanksgiving Day, offered few details about the meeting with the boy.

"He's very happy, I can tell you that much," said Ciancio, whom Juan Miguel invited to come to the Rosedale estate in Washington, expenses paid.

Ciancio appears to have become a South Florida insider with Juan Miguel's entourage, much like his cousin Dalrymple, of Lauderhill, did with the Miami relatives while they had custody of EliM-an .

Nowadays, Ciancio appears to have a direct pipeline to Juan Miguel. Days after the raid, Ciancio said he was among a few people informed the federal agents would take the boy on April 22 -- by way of a 4: 15 a.m. telephone call. The raid took place at 5:15 a.m.

Ciancio would not elaborate about his conversations with the father. The two spoke through a translator, he said.

"What I can tell you is that the Miami relatives should just give up their legal case and let them go home to Cuba already. This thing is getting ridiculous."

The visit marked the second time Ciancio has met with Juan Miguel. At the first encounter in early April while EliM-an was still in Miami, Ciancio, the father of two, changed his mind about keeping EliM-an in the United States and publicly broke rank with Dalrymple and the Miami relatives.

Ciancio made news last month when he tried to auction off through the Internet the boat he used while rescuing the boy. He said part of the proceeds would have gone to charity. However, he said there were no serious offers.

Luisa Yanez can be reached at lyanez@sun-sentinel.com or at 954-385-7920.